The New Witch

Hekate picked up the Magic Book Betty had brought over.

Shadow Curse

It could summon the power of the Netherworld to erode soul bodies. It was magic specifically designed to target Soul System monsters.

Hekate opened the book. There was still a long way to go before she broke through to Archmage. For now, she would deal with that sacred artifact first.

By the time Natasha came to deliver dinner that evening, she had already learned it.

Advanced magic, and it only took half a day to grasp the basics. Comprehension Boost was truly powerful!

"Natasha, you don't need to bring me meals at night anymore. It isn't safe."

Natasha smiled. "It's fine. It isn't far from here anyway."

"These were made by Madam according to your favorite tastes. Try them."

Hekate was helpless.

She could only empty the lunchbox in front of her.

Once Natasha left, she immediately cursed Seraphin Noel.

Far away in the capital of Chaos, the sacred artifact enshrined atop a high platform within the Chaos Religion suddenly let out a scream. The exquisite magic patterns across its body began turning a ghostly green as the power of the Netherworld continuously eroded it.

The sleeping Seraphin Noel's body trembled without stop.

Yet the believers below failed to notice the sacred artifact's abnormality. The war launched by the surrounding kingdoms had already kept them run off their feet, and the number of people capable of working was dwindling rapidly. Who still had time to pay attention to a sacred artifact?

If they had defeated the Uruk Kingdom back then, they would not be in such a miserable state now. Unfortunately, the winners became kings and the losers became outlaws.

The war ended. Three years later, Grants Academy reopened, and new students arrived one after another.

Bored, Hekate went out for a look. She found Puli bustling about, doing her best to play the part of a good senior sister. Embarrassed to disturb her, Hekate merely wandered around the Academy.

After a war, Grants Academy had lost quite a few people. With the new students arriving, it finally regained some of its liveliness.

After clearing her mind for a while, Hekate returned to the Astrology Tower to cultivate.

That night, starlight flickered faintly.

Two new students from other kingdoms entered Grants Academy.

Bill Mac, descendant of a Peters Kingdom noble and a talented mage with superior Magic Aptitude. He had come to the Academy with a mission arranged by his kingdom: gather information related to the Storm Mage. The Silbon Kingdom currently knew that you were the Storm Mage.

Furia, a commoner from the Silbon Kingdom across the sea. However, she had awakened the Sea Witch Bloodline. Following the sea's guidance, she had come to find you.

Huh?

There was no need to mention the one from Peters. Sending a little brat to collect information about her was simply wishful thinking.

But this Furia actually possessed the Sea Witch Bloodline. This was the first Witch Hekate had seen besides herself.

The next day.

Hekate found Furia, who had just moved into the shared dormitory. She had short azure hair, and deep fear hid within her light-colored eyes. Sitting in the dormitory with no sense of security at all, she did not speak with anyone else.

Hekate's sudden arrival drew the attention of the new students in the dormitory, who watched her with puzzled expressions.

Ignoring their gazes, Hekate walked straight up to the little girl.

"Pack your things and come with me."

Furia looked at Hekate warily.

"I'm the person you came looking for. If you trust me, follow me." After saying that, Hekate left the dormitory directly.

Furia hesitated for a moment before chasing after her.

With the timid little tail behind her, Hekate returned to the top floor of the Astrology Tower.

3-star Apprentice Mage, not bad.

Hekate came to the table and gestured for her to sit as well.

"Furia, a coastal commoner from the Silbon Kingdom who awakened the Sea Witch Bloodline, correct?"

Furia looked at Hekate in fear, as though she were sitting on pins and needles.

She had never revealed her identity to anyone. How had someone learned everything about her just after she enrolled?

"Relax. I'm the person the sea told you to find." Hekate shrugged and made her a cup of hot tea.

"Tell me, how did you get here? Did you commit any crimes in your former kingdom? Is anyone hunting you? Most importantly, does anyone else know you have a Witch Bloodline?"

Furia hurriedly shook her head and said softly, "I'm an orphan. No one knows who I am. Seris told me to come find you. It called a fish to carry me here and gave me many treasures, saying they would let me enter the Academy to find you..."

"O-oh, right. This is a gift Seris told me to give you."

As she spoke, the little girl took an exquisite conch from her pocket.

Deep Sea Call: Relic-Tier Summoning Item. When used by the sea, it can summon a Deep Sea Monster. The monster can attack enemies for you or search for treasures for you.

Hekate took it and touched it. A Relic-Tier item—not bad.

She placed the conch into her brooch and said, "Thank it for the gift. I like it very much."

Then she instructed, "You can stay here. Pick any empty room for yourself. Usually, go downstairs to study. If there's anything you don't understand, don't ask me—ask the teachers, because I probably won't understand either. But I can keep you safe here. Also, don't tell anyone about your bloodline."

Furia nodded repeatedly, grabbed her bundle, and randomly chose a room.

Looking down from the window of her room, she could see nearly the entire Academy in detail. She could even see many mages flying around through the lower levels of the air.

Everything felt so dreamlike.

Ever since she awakened her Witch Bloodline, her former life of poverty seemed to be rapidly fading away.

Furia rubbed her face. Seris had told her that Witches never met a good end once discovered. She could not let a moment of comfort make her lower her guard. She had to cultivate diligently!

Hekate went to the Central Tower to handle Furia's affairs. Since she had accepted Furia as a disciple, she was, much like Professor Emand had been, acting as her sponsor, so it needed to be registered.

This was easy to handle. The moment Hubbard saw that it was her, he completed the registration without a word.

Afterward, Hekate flew to an uninhabited stretch of shore, took out the conch, and tried blowing it.

A clear, hollow sound slowly spread from the conch.

A moment later, a massive octopus surfaced, looking at her with friendly eyes.

"Go find some treasures for me," Hekate ordered.

The octopus waved its tentacles and dove beneath the water. After waiting for around half an hour, it resurfaced and placed a chest of treasures on the shore.

Hekate casually snapped off the corroded lock and opened the Treasure Chest. It was filled with gold, silver, and jewels.

They were probably treasures from some old shipwreck.

They were not Magic Equipment, but they were still worthwhile. In any case, she had obtained them without lifting a finger.

By then, the octopus had already left. Hekate placed the Treasure Chest into her brooch and returned to the Astrology Tower.